Shying away from sustainable action because you think it will cost too much is actually costing you much more. Clients are becoming increasingly eco-aware, choosing salons that show they also care about the environment. It’s ironic because, as they are departing to greener salons, you could be bankrolling eco-initiatives simply by implementing more sustainable practices.
Sustain Beauty Co Founders Paul and Valorie TateCourtesy of Sustain Beauty Co
Sustain Beauty Co recently questioned more than 1,000 professional salon clients and 300 stylists about how to finance sustainability. Almost all clients questioned recognized our industry’s impact on the planet and understood that it is a shared problem that requires a shared solution. The survey also found that one salon in four (23%) was already sharing the cost of going green with clients through a green fee.
The 'green fee' was initially started by a specialty recycler that suggested passing a small fee to the customer to cover the cost of recycling the materials needed for the service. This creates a fund for the business to use to cover the recycling service, supplies or upgrades to help conserve.
Overall the Great Lakes (35%), Rocky Mountains (33%) and Mideast (32%) were most likely to charge a green fee, while the Southeast (16%) was least likely.Courtesy of Sustain Beauty Co
“In tandem with the consumer survey, we asked salons if they charged a green fee. Beauty Launchpad magazine did the same, and we both found that around one in four were adding an optional green fee to the ticket and that very few clients objected,” continues Valorie. “The clients love the transparency of the fee, where they can see what the charge is paying for rather than costs being covered by a general price increase.”
While some salons were charging as much as a $10 green fee, the average evened out at around $2.98. This small addition was paying for specialist recycling, innovative equipment like water-saving showerheads and other eco-initiatives. Clients also shared they would pay on average $3.58 to support a salon's eco programs, and those that both visited more frequently and received a variety of services were more likely to pay more.
At the same time, such initiatives were helping the salons conserve water, energy and labor, which brought down costs. For instance, salons with ECOHEADS shampoo nozzles on their basins witnessed a 65% saving on water and energy use, while those swapping out their dingy cotton towels for Scrummi biodegradable towels had significantly cut housekeeping costs.
“The growing use of the green fee, in tandem with conservation initiatives, is helping bankroll the sustainability evolution of beauty,” says Valorie. “Sustainability isn’t just about protecting the planet; it’s about recognizing innovation that can lessen a salon’s impact without jeopardizing the finances of the business or the careers of the experts delivering the service.”
To learn more about how to make sustainability a part of your salon business model, you can read Beauty Launchpad's March/April 2025 issue, which includes insight from Valorie. You can also access the results of Sustain Beauty Co's Green Fee Survey by visiting its website.
